That's what local resident Rod Kyle thinks about the holiday. However, that sentiment seems to be overlooked by some national chains which are opening on Thanksgiving to start Black Friday sales early.

Many retail workers across the U.S. will not get to be with their family for a large chunk of the Thanksgiving holiday, and "Black Friday creep" plays a role. It's a term used to describe the movement of Black Friday sales to earlier and earlier each year in an effort for large retailers to compete with one another.

Walmart, Kmart, and many other retailers in the area will open their doors as early as 6 p.m. Thursday.

Kyle, now retired, worked at Burr Oak Tool and Gauge and never had to work on Thanksgiving.

"I would probably be pretty unhappy if I did," he said.

One reader posted on the Journal's Facebook page wrote that she is scheduled to work 3-10 p.m. both Thursday and Friday as a cashier at a local retailer.

"I swear I am the only one who has kids that doesn't mind working it."

She takes issue with those who complain about working holidays.

"There are plenty of people who have it worse out there. We have soldiers in other countries who don't get to come home and spend these holidays with their families. They go nine-plus months without seeing their loved ones while we go four to eight hours without being with ours."

While corporate retailers see a golden opportunity to capitalize on early Black Friday shoppers, several local Sturgis businesses don't think they're missing out by not opening on Thanksgiving day.

"We really only have two sales a year, and my customers know, so I don't think the need is there," said Todd Maynard, owner of Willer's Shoes.

In fact, Maynard hinted that local stores don't mind at all that people flock to the bigger retailers right around Thanksgiving because it tends to bring them more business once they do open on Friday.

Also, the rush by consumers to bigger towns allows smaller businesses to gain attention from people who are looking to avoid the holiday chaos.

"Fifty percent of my customers are from Grand Rapids, Lansing, Chicago, and Detroit. And they come here to the small town because they want to get out of the bigger town," Maynard said.

But opening on Thursday isn't an option for most local retailers.

"I think there should be two holidays where stores should be closed for families, and that's Thanksgiving and Christmas," said Sheila Kuhbander, manager of Lowry's Books and More. "I'm fortunate enough that we'll be closed on Thanksgiving so we can be with our family."

Page 2 of 2 - Both Lowry's Books and Willer's Shoes will be open on Friday, but to them, the incentive to open on Thanksgiving just isn't there.